Ten steps to better management: know your employees and know yourself.

• Author: Barbour, Tracy

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One of the top five reasons people leave organizations is because of the leadership, and this makes the effective management of employees of the "utmost importance" to companies, according to human resources consultant Heather Kinzie, SPHR. Leadership has a direct impact on employees' attitudes, work behavior and motivation. "Even if it isn't the only issue affecting retention, leadership certainly affects productivity, efficiency and the bottom line," says Kinzie, principal of Anchorage-based A Leading Solution. Kinzie provides business management consulting with an emphasis in human resources and has worked in her field for 12 years. In addition to consulting with clients on employee development, she teaches classes on various topics, including leadership, communication and conflict resolution.

To be effective, business professionals who oversee employees must think of themselves as more than just a manager or supervisor, Kinzie says. They should view themselves as leaders with the power to have a positive impact on their employees and organization. "I encourage people to think: "I am more than just a supervisor; I am a leader," she says "I'm going to lead the organization and encourage employees to get involved and work toward our objectives."

Patty Billingsley, PHR, CCP, feels strongly about the importance of effective employee management. It's the most critical aspect of a manager's job because employees are the backbone of the organization, says Billingsley, director of the Society for Human Resource Management Alaska State Council. She is also the human resources director for Anchorage's St. Elias Specialty Hospital, a 60-bed, long-term, acute-care hospital with about 75 contract and staff employees and a dozen managers.

"Without proper management, you can lose employees, which, in turn, can result in the loss of revenue, customers and your reputation," says Billingsley, who has 15 years in the human resources field. "Effective managers who can keep their employees engaged in their work are going to benefit the organization."

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But often, many managers lack the skills that are required to effectively supervise and direct personnel. There are a lot of very good practitioners--teachers who are good at teaching and nurses who are good at nursing--but they're not always good managers, Billingsley says. Many of those people get promoted to those roles because they're good at their job. "But...